Ed Dadakis gives Ned Lamont a peck on the cheek to the amusement of Malcolm Pray as guests gather to roast former Republican Congressman Christopher Shays at Richards on Greenwich Avenue Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, state Sen. Scott Frantz, state Reps. Fred Camillo, Livvy Floren and Lile Gibbons, First Selectman Peter Tesei, Lamont, Linda McMahon and Bill Mitchell were all on hand for the evening which benefited SoundWaters, an educational program aimed at protecting Long Island Sound.
Photo: Keelin Daly

State Rep. Livvy Floren chats with Linda McMahon before the roast of former Republican Congressman Christopher Shays at Richards on Greenwich Avenue Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, state Sen. Scott Frantz, state Reps. Fred Camillo and Lile Gibbons, First Selectman Peter Tesei, Ned Lamont, McMahon and Bill Mitchell were all on hand for the evening which benefited SoundWaters, an educational program aimed at protecting Long Island Sound.
Photo: Keelin Daly

After roasting Christopher Shays, Ned Lamont hugs the longtime Republican Congressman who was roasted and toasted throughout the evening at Richards on Greenwich Avenue Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Lamont drew a parallel between Shays and Brett Favre questioning their retirement terminology. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, state Sen. Scott Frantz, state Reps. Fred Camillo, Livvy Floren and Lile Gibbons, First Selectman Peter Tesei, Lamont, Linda McMahon and Bill Mitchell were all on hand for the evening which benefited SoundWaters, an educational program aimed at protecting Long Island Sound.
Photo: Keelin Daly

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In the strongest indication yet that he may re-enter politics, former Rep. Christopher Shays R-Conn., said Wednesday night that he wants to run for governor this year if the stars align.

"I feel that I have a voice that can make a contribution, win or lose," Shays said in an exclusive interview after a roast in his honor held by SoundWaters at the high-end haberdashery Richards of Greenwich.

Fourteen months removed from losing his seat of 21 years to Democrat Jim Himes, Shays made his first formal visit back to the Republican seat of his former district for the fundraiser, which was the place to be for anyone who's anyone in the Constitution State's political landscape, not to mention two likely candidates for the state's top office -- GOP Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele and Democrat Ned Lamont.

Shays, who is co-chairman of the government's Wartime Contracting Commission in Washington, said the state he called home for so long is tugging at his heartstrings.

"I look at what is happening in the state where I've lived for 63 years and I just see things getting worse and worse," Shays said. "We don't need a manager to run the state. We need a leader to confront those issues."

Shays would need to re-establish residency after selling his cherished waterfront home in Bridgeport's Black Rock section in the fall. He and his wife, Betsi, also parted with their condominium in Washington, using the proceeds from both sales to buy a new place in St. Michael's, Md.

"It's likely that we're going to get a smaller place up here," Shays said, listing Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport as places where the couple might buy or rent.

Shays said his time away from politics has sharpened his perspective on the ills facing the state, which he said needs leaders who think like a parent would.

"A parent looks at an issue and says, `What's good for my children today and tomorrow?' " said Shays, who was approached by many of his former constituents after the event, urging him to get back into politics.

Lamont, who lost to Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 general election after beating him in the Democratic primary, jokingly referred to Shays as the Brett Favre of Connecticut politics during his roast of the former congressman.

"We're never quite sure how long you're going to stay retired," Lamont said, drawing an analogy to the on-again-off-again retirement plans of the Minnesota Vikings quarterback.

Shays said he and his wife, who is executive director of the Alexandria, Va., nonprofit Alliance for Learning and Leading, must decide whether they can swing it financially to leave their jobs and run a campaign for the next nine months.

"I would like to do it. I don't know if we can," Shays said. "We're weighing the personal aspect of giving up two great jobs that we have and a lifestyle that we haven't gotten to experience in 21 years."

Acknowledging that a number of his supporters have already committed to supporting other candidates, Shays said he completely understood and would not pressure them to change their allegiances. They could always come on board after the August primary if he is successful, said Shays, who promised to support the party nominee whatever the result.

"I would like to be part of this debate," Shays said. "If we're going to do it, we have to make a decision in the next few weeks."

Staff writer Neil Vigdor can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or 203-625-4436.